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Program Details

Certificates allow you to complete a specific group of university courses (for credit) as either part of your degree studies or separately.

As a technical and professional communicator, your job is to turn complex ideas into plain language that’s accessible for a general audience. The skills you learn will be incredibly valuable for whatever career path you choose.

You’ll find the Certificate in Technical & Professional Communication ideal for complementing your liberal arts studies or as a next step for switching careers or moving into management. If you have a technical background, the certificate will broaden your skills and work opportunities.

You’ll be prepared to write and edit web pages, instructions and proposals, and to analyze communication needs. Through your courses, you’ll learn to plan and edit technical reports and oversee the preparation of illustrations, images, diagrams and charts. You’ll also hone your digital storytelling skills by using relevant software to edit audio and video files.

The certificate can be taken as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree or on its own. Because the program is offered on a part-time basis over two years and all courses are taught in the evening, you’ll be able to balance work while completing the program.


Certificate Requirements

The following 18 credits are required:

  • 12 credits in professional writing and documentation as follows:
    • GL/TRAN 3310 3.00
    • GL/TRAN 4310 3.00
    • GL/TRAN 4320 3.00
    • GL/TRAN 4330 3.00
  • 6 credits in information technology from the following: GL/COMS 2200 3.00 and GL/COMS 2205 3.00 (recommended) or the equivalent as approved by the program coordinator.

In order to receive the certificate, students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in each course.

In addition to the course requirements, there is a final comprehensive examination.

How to apply

Students currently enrolled at York University should apply directly to the Program through the School of Translation at Glendon College as they will need to be admitted to the courses to be able to enrol.

Email: translation@glendon.yorku.ca

Telephone: 416-487-6742

All other applicants should apply through York University’s Office of Admissions.

Admission form for online applications

Courses


Throughout this certificate, you’ll find a curriculum that offers an in-depth and balanced approach to Technical & Professional Communication, with courses on topics such as information technology, documentation, and techniques in business and technical writing.

View course timetables on York University’s site

COURSES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

If you have previous academic credit in computer science or information technology you may be eligible for advanced standing. If these courses are indicated on the transcripts that you submit when you apply, we will automatically look for these credits. If you have taken courses but have not submitted the relevant transcripts you will need to get copies and leave them with the program assistant in room 241 York Hall.

Normally you are expected to complete the two courses in computer science or information technology before September of your second year.

You are encouraged to take the following Glendon courses from the Communications Program: GL/COMS 2200 Computer Tools and Applications for Communication and COMS 2205 Creating and Promoting Web Content.

COURSES IN WRITING AND DOCUMENTATION

GL/TRAN 3310 3.0 – PROBLEMS IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING (Year 1 – Fall Course)

Learning to write professionally is partly a matter of learning new ways to pattern language and partly a matter of changing existing habits. Writing professionals are responsible for every aspect of language production: spelling, punctuation, accuracy, and layout on the page. One of the goals of this course is therefore to make sure that students understand the conventions of administrative writing and learn to correct errors of grammar, usage, and style in their own work and in the work of others. Learning to write for an organization also means learning to express what someone else has to say and to speak with the voice of the organization. To do this, a writer needs to be able to adapt his or her style and tone to the task at hand. This course will help students develop this flexibility through discussions of the elements which affect tone and style. Above all, a professional writer needs to be able to define the information that should go into a given document for a given audience. The writing assignments in this course are designed to develop this ability to solve problems through writing.

GL/TRAN 4310 3.0 – TECHNIQUES IN BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL WRITING 1 (Year 1 – Winter Course)

This course builds on the skills and knowledge acquired in TRAN 3310.04, Problems in Professional Writing. The focus is on understanding the relationship between audience, function, style, and format. Students will learn to direct their writing to a given audience, gather information as required by various workplace situations, begin to learn the basics of graphic design for typography and layout, and develop the skills required by team and project writing. Because writing in administrative, business, and technical fields requires a different kind of research and a different style from academic writing, students will work on a major project suitable for presentation in a writing portfolio.

GL/TRAN 4320 3.0 TECHNIQUES IN BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL WRITING 2 (Year 2 – Fall Course)

This course focuses on creating documentation for computers. Using an actual
software product developed for business, you will work through the development of a user manual by following a project plan. Topics covered in this course are:

  • genres and types of user documentation
  • audience analysis
  • documentation planning
  • technical accuracy and user-context accuracy
  • software tools for successful documentation
  • online, hypertext and hypermedia problems and research

GL/TRAN 4330 3.0 DOCUMENTATION IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

The purpose of this course is to provide you with an understanding of emerging information technologies used in a wide range of business environments. You will analyze and create the user assistance for specific business software, and present your solution in both written and oral presentations.


In addition to covering new approaches to design, the web and user assistance, the course is designed to also teach important development methods and project management skills, including the creation of refined project plans, presentations and final deliverables.

Students studying together.

Other Program Details

Student Awards

We want to recognize your academic success and commitment to excellence in the Technical & Professional Communication certificate. Not just a financial boost, awards and scholarships are a great way to show your hard work on your resumé and university transcript. Check out the available awards, which include Technical and Professional Communication Certificate Prize.

Students on Glendon Campus.

Join Our Student Association

The Glendon Communications Student Association, or GLCSA, offers opportunities to meet your classmates, learn new skills and get peer support.


Apply Now!